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Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) is a key mediator of inflammatory immune responses induced primarily by interleukin-12 (IL-12). IFN-γ secretion by both innate and adaptive immune cells is essential for control of intracellular pathogens and tumors, yet aberrant production of IFN-γ contributes to autoimmunity and inflammation in certain disease settings. These divergent roles are well illustrated in the context of malaria, a disease caused by infection with protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. IFN-γ is a central cytokine in controlling Plasmodium infection in both the liver and blood stages of the parasite life cycle, but it can also exacerbate the severity of malarial disease depending on the temporal and spatial production of IFN-γ. Here, we review the types of immune cells that produce IFN-γ during malaria and discuss the IFN-γ-induced effector mechanisms that can aid in killing Plasmodium parasites but also contribute to the pathogenesis of malaria.
King et al. (Thu,) studied this question.